Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

J. W. TATEM. &7 DE WITT G. MANGUM.

' CARPET STRETOHER. 7

No. 507,049. Patented Oct. 17, 1893.-

flL Z/TT C. Mgig,

Unirsn STATES JAMES W. TATEM AND DE WITT O. MANGUM, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

PATENT @rrrcn.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

srncrmonrion forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,049, dated October 17, 1893.

Application filed May 17, 1893- Serial No. 474,573. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMES W. TATEM and DE WITT O. MANGUM, residents of Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Stretchers; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved carpet-stretcher, showing the same adjusted ready for use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, the play of the operating lever and stretcher-head being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on a vertical plane. Fig. 4 is an end View of the base-board with its slotted supporting block or bearing; and Fig.5 is a side view of the device as it appears when folded up for storage or packing (for shipment) to occupy but little space.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to carpet-stretchers of the lever type, and consists in the novel and specific construction and combination of parts of the improved folding lever-stretcher which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A. denotes a fiat base or board, to the reduced outer end of which is firmly fastened the holding-dog B, the point of which is sharpened so as to take a firm hold or bite into the floor over which the carpet is to be stretched tightly. At the other end of the board or base A, to its under side, is fastened at right angles thereto a block or bearing 0, having a central recess 0, which is spanned by thetransverse stop or retaining pin D, the function of which will be described later on. Upon the same end of this board or base B is hinged a lever E and the end of board B, at the hinge or fulcrum e, for said lever, is out off slanting or beveled, as shown at b, so as to give lever E sufficient play in operating it.

The operating lever E plays between two parallel bars, F, F, which are connected by the broad cross-piece G, and also, below said cross-piece, by the transverse stretcher-head H, which is provided with arow of forwardly projecting teeth or prongs, h, adapted to bite into and take a firm hold of the carpet. Through the space formed by the parallel side-bars F F and cross-pieces G and H is inserted the forward reduced end of base A with its dog B, while lever E projects up through the open space between the upper ends of the parallel side bars. These are notched on the under side so as to form aseries of ratchets f on each side, adapted to engage a pm I, inserted transversely through the lever and projecting on opposite sides thereof.

' Midway upon the stretcher-head H, on its rear side, is hinged, at 7, a notched guide and retaining-bar J the notches or ratchets of which are adapted to engage or interlock with pin D in the bearing-block G; the notched end of bar J passing (when the device is in operation) through the slot or recesscin said block or bearing.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the manner of adjusting and using our improved lever carpet-stretcher will readily be understood.

After the parts have been properly adjusted in the juxtaposition illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the point of the dog B is driven into the floor and the stretcher-head His fastened in the carpet at the point where this is to be stretched over the floor. By nowtaking hold of the upper end or handle of lever and forcing this in a forward direction, t. e., in the direction of the arrow, the frame formed by the parallel side bars F F, cross-piece G and stretcher-head H, (the latter carrying that part of the carpet which is attached to it, but not shown in the drawings, with it) will be forced in the same direction; the notched guide-bar J slipping over the retaining-pin D. When the handle is let go, the strain upon the stretched carpet is prevented from pulling the stretcher-head H back, by the ratchets in bar J, which, while they admit of the forward movement of the bar, will prevent and stop its backward or retrograde movement while lever E is being thrown back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to: permit the pin 1 to engage another pair of i ratchets f higher up on the side bars F. Atter this has been efiected (requiring only a moment of time), lever E is again thrown forward and down as far as it will go, resulting in another advance of the carpet carried by the stretcher-head, with its combined guidebar and retaining-bar J, which, as the lever is stopped, is again arrested by its notches engaging the retaining-pin D;and so on, by repeating this operation and-shifting the position of the device from one part of the floor to another, the carpet may be stretched smoothly and evenly, and with a minimum of force, overthe entire floor areato be-carpeted.

When the device is not in use, or when it is to be packed for transportation, the parts are disconnected and fielded up or nested as shown in Fig. 5., so as to occupy but little room. It requires only a few moments of time to set the device upin its position ready for use, and when so arranged and adjusted, it is so simple that any child can 'work it.

Having thus described our invention, we 25 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination, in a carpet-stretcher of the described type, of the base A having dog B and provided with the slotted bearing-block 0 having transverse retaintn'gpin 1).; lever E provided with the laterally projecting pin I; the frame comprising the parallel notched arms F F, cross-piece Gand toothed stretcher head H; and the combined guide-and-retaining-bar J having notches on its under side adapted to engage pin D on the backward movement of the bar; substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoingas 40 our own we have hereunto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.-

JAMES TATEM. DE WITT '0. MANGUM.

Witnesses:

J. B. MASON, In, L. W. H. BATTE. 

